Nevada School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Firearms and Other Weapons Violations

Discipline Compendium

Nevada School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Firearms and Other Weapons Violations

Category: Discipline Addressing Specific Code of Conduct Violations
Subcategory: Firearms and Other Weapons Violations
State: Nevada

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LAWS

NRS 202.265. Possession of dangerous weapon on property or in vehicle of school or child care facility; penalty; exceptions.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not carry or possess while on the property of the Nevada System of Higher Education, a private or public school or child care facility, or while in a vehicle of a private or public school or child care facility:

(a) An explosive or incendiary device;

(b) A dirk, dagger or switchblade knife;

(c) A nunchaku or trefoil;

(d) A blackjack or billy club or metal knuckles;

(e) A pneumatic gun;

(f) A pistol, revolver or other firearm; or

(g) Any device used to mark any part of a person with paint or any other substance.

2. Any person who violates subsection 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

3. This section does not prohibit the possession of a weapon listed in subsection 1 on the property of:

(a) A private or public school or child care facility by a:

(1) Peace officer;

(2) School security guard; or

(3) Person having written permission from the president of a branch or facility of the Nevada System of Higher Education or the principal of the school or the person designated by a child care facility to give permission to carry or possess the weapon.

(b) A child care facility which is located at or in the home of a natural person by the person who owns or operates the facility so long as the person resides in the home and the person complies with any laws governing the possession of such a weapon.

4. The provisions of this section apply to a child care facility located at or in the home of a natural person only during the normal hours of business of the facility.

5. For the purposes of this section:

(a) "Child care facility" means any child care facility that is licensed pursuant to chapter 432A of NRS or licensed by a city or county.

(b) "Nunchaku" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 202.350.

(c) "Pneumatic gun" means any implement designed as a gun that may expel a ball bearing or a pellet by action of pneumatic pressure. The term includes, without limitation, a paintball gun that expels plastic balls filled with paint for the purpose of marking the point of impact.

(d) "Switchblade knife" means a spring-blade knife, snap-blade knife or any other knife having the appearance of a pocketknife, any blade of which is 2 or more inches long and which can be released automatically by a flick of a button, pressure on the handle or other mechanical device, or is released by any type of mechanism. The term does not include a knife which has a blade that is held in place by a spring if the blade does not have any type of automatic release.

(e) "Trefoil" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 202.350.

(f) "Vehicle" has the meaning ascribed to "school bus" in NRS 484A.230.

NRS 392.4634. Prohibition against disciplining certain pupils for simulating firearm or dangerous weapon or wearing clothing or accessories that depict firearm or dangerous weapon; exceptions; prohibition against adoption of conflicting policy, ordinance or regulation.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, a pupil enrolled in kindergarten or grades 1 to 8, inclusive, may not be disciplined, including, without limitation, pursuant to NRS 392.466, for:

(a) Simulating a firearm or dangerous weapon while playing; or

(b) Wearing clothing or accessories that depict a firearm or dangerous weapon or express an opinion regarding a constitutional right to keep and bear arms, unless it substantially disrupts the educational environment.

2. Simulating a firearm or dangerous weapon includes, without limitation:

(a) Brandishing a partially consumed pastry or other food item to simulate a firearm or dangerous weapon;

(b) Possessing a toy firearm or toy dangerous weapon that is 2 inches or less in length;

(c) Possessing a toy firearm or toy dangerous weapon made of plastic building blocks which snap together;

(d) Using a finger or hand to simulate a firearm or dangerous weapon;

(e) Drawing a picture or possessing an image of a firearm or dangerous weapon; and

(f) Using a pencil, pen or other writing or drawing implement to simulate a firearm or dangerous weapon.

3. A pupil who simulates a firearm or dangerous weapon may be disciplined when disciplinary action is consistent with a policy adopted by the board of trustees of the school district and such simulation:

(a) Substantially disrupts learning by pupils or substantially disrupts the educational environment at the school;

(b) Causes bodily harm to another person; or

(c) Places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm.

4. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, a school, school district, board of trustees of a school district or other entity shall not adopt any policy, ordinance or regulation which conflicts with this section.

5. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit a school from establishing and enforcing a policy requiring pupils to wear a school uniform as authorized pursuant to NRS 386.855.

6. As used in this section:

(a) "Dangerous weapon" has the meaning ascribed to it inNRS 392.466.

(b) "Firearm" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 392.466.

NRS 392.466. Plan of action for pupil who engages in battery on employee of school, possession of firearm or dangerous weapon or sale or distribution of controlled substance or is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem; appeal by employee who is victim of battery; suspension or expulsion of such pupils; modification to suspension or expulsion; limitations for pupils with disabilities.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who commits a battery which results in the bodily injury of an employee of the school or who sells or distributes any controlled substance while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus and who is at least 11 years of age shall meet with the school and his or her parent or legal guardian. The school shall provide a plan of action based on restorative justice to the parent or legal guardian of the pupil or, if the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil. The pupil may be expelled from the school, in which case the pupil shall:

(a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or be homeschooled; or

(b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant to NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled from public school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program.

2. An employee who is a victim of a battery which results in the bodily injury of an employee of the school may appeal to the school the plan of action provided pursuant to subsection 1 if:

(a) The employee feels any actions taken pursuant to such plan are inappropriate; and

(b) For a pupil who committed the battery and is participating in a program of special education pursuant to NRS 388.419, the board of trustees of the school district has reviewed the circumstances and determined that such an appeal is in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.

3. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who is found in possession of a firearm or a dangerous weapon while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus must, for the first occurrence, be expelled from the school for a period of not less than 1 year, although the pupil may be placed in another kind of school for a period not to exceed the period of the expulsion. For a second occurrence, the pupil must be permanently expelled from the school and:

(a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or be homeschooled; or

(b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant to NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled from public school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program.

4. If a school is unable to retain a pupil in the school pursuant to subsection 1 for the safety of any person or because doing so would not be in the best interest of the pupil, the pupil may be suspended, expelled or placed in another school. If a pupil is placed in another school, the current school of the pupil shall explain what services will be provided to the pupil at the new school that the current school is unable to provide to address the specific needs and behaviors of the pupil. The school district of the current school of the pupil shall coordinate with the new school or the board of trustees of the school district of the new school to create a plan of action based on restorative justice for the pupil and to ensure that any resources required to execute the plan of action based on restorative justice are available at the new school.

5. Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a pupil is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem pursuant to NRS 392.4655, the pupil is at least 11 years of age and the school has made a reasonable effort to complete a plan of action based on restorative justice with the pupil, the pupil may be:

(a) Suspended from the school for a period not to exceed one school semester as determined by the seriousness of the acts which were the basis for the discipline; or

(b) Expelled from the school under extraordinary circumstances as determined by the principal of the school.

6. If the pupil is expelled, or the period of the pupil's suspension is for one school semester, the pupil must:

(a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or be homeschooled; or

(b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant to NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled from public school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program.

7. The superintendent of schools of a school district may, for good cause shown in a particular case in that school district, allow a modification to a suspension or expulsion pursuant to subsections 1 to 5, inclusive, if such modification is set forth in writing. The superintendent shall allow such a modification if the superintendent determines that a plan of action based on restorative justice may be used successfully.

8. This section does not prohibit a pupil from having in his or her possession a knife or firearm with the approval of the principal of the school. A principal may grant such approval only in accordance with the policies or regulations adopted by the board of trustees of the school district.

9. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a pupil who is not more than 10 years of age must not be permanently expelled from school. In extraordinary circumstances, a school may request an exception to this subsection from the board of trustees of the school district. A pupil who is at least 11 years of age may be suspended from school or permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section only after the board of trustees of the school district has reviewed the circumstances and approved this action in accordance with the procedural policy adopted by the board for such issues.

10. A pupil who is at least 11 years of age and who is participating in a program of special education pursuant to NRS 388.419 may, in accordance with the procedural policy adopted by the board of trustees of the school district for such matters and only after the board of trustees of the school district has reviewed the circumstances and determined that the action is in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., be:

(a) Suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more than 5 days. Such a suspension may be imposed pursuant to this paragraph for each occurrence of conduct proscribed by subsection 1.

(b) Permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section.

11. A homeless pupil or a pupil in foster care who is at least 11 years of age may be suspended or expelled from school pursuant to this section only if a determination is made that the behavior that led to the consideration for suspension or expulsion was not caused by homelessness or being in foster care. The person responsible for making a determination of whether or not the behavior was caused by homelessness or being in foster care shall presume that the behavior was caused by homelessness or being in foster care unless the person determines that the behavior was not caused by homelessness or being in foster care pursuant to this subsection. A determination that the behavior was not caused by homelessness must be made in consultation with the local educational agency liaison for homeless pupils designated in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11301 et seq., or a contact person at a school, including, without limitation, a school counselor or school social worker. A determination that the behavior was not caused by being in foster care must be made in consultation with an advocate for pupils in foster care at the school in which the pupil is in enrolled or the school counselor of the pupil.

12. As used in this section:

(a) "Battery" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 of NRS 200.481.

(b) "Dangerous weapon" includes, without limitation, a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sand-club, sandbag, metal knuckles, dirk or dagger, a nunchaku or trefoil, as defined in NRS 202.350, a butterfly knife or any other knife described in NRS 202.350, a switchblade knife as defined in NRS 202.265, or any other object which is used, or threatened to be used, in such a manner and under such circumstances as to pose a threat of, or cause, bodily injury to a person.

(c) "Firearm" includes, without limitation, any pistol, revolver, shotgun, explosive substance or device, and any other item included within the definition of a "firearm" in 18 U.S.C. § 921, as that section existed on July 1, 1995.

(d) “Foster care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 45 C.F.R. § 1355.20.

(e) “Homeless pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term “homeless children and youths” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2).

(f) "Restorative justice" has the meaning ascribed to it in subsection 6 of NRS 392.472.

(g) “Unaccompanied pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term “unaccompanied youth” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6).

13. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a pupil who is suspended or expelled from enrolling in a charter school that is designed exclusively for the enrollment of pupils with disciplinary problems if the pupil is accepted for enrollment by the charter school pursuant to NRS 388A.453 or 388A.456. Upon request, the governing body of a charter school must be provided with access to the records of the pupil relating to the pupil's suspension or expulsion in accordance with applicable federal and state law before the governing body makes a decision concerning the enrollment of the pupil.

NRS 392.467. Suspension or expulsion of pupil: Procedure; limitations.

2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, no pupil may be suspended or expelled until the pupil has been given notice of the charges against him or her, an explanation of the evidence and an opportunity for a hearing, except that a pupil who is found to be in possession of a firearm or a dangerous weapon as provided in NRS 392.466 may be removed from the school immediately upon being given an explanation of the reasons for his or her removal and pending proceedings, to be conducted as soon as practicable after removal, for the pupil's suspension or expulsion.

REGULATIONS

No relevant regulations found.

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